GATE Syllabus for Physics 2023: Important Topics, Exam Pattern, Samples Questions and Books

GATE Syllabus for Physics 2023 consists of topics from Core Physics and General Aptitude. The majority of questions i.e. 85% are asked from the core subject and the rest of the questions i.e. 15% from general aptitude topics. There will be a total of 55 questions from the core physics and 10 questions from General Aptitude. The exam will be held online as a computer based test for three hours. Check GATE Exam Pattern 2023

Candidates who have opted for GATE Physics as their first paper can select the second paper from EC/ GG/ IN/ MA/ MT/ ST. The major topics in the core Physics subject of GATE Syllabus for PH include Mathematical Physics, Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, Solid State Physics, Electronics and Nuclear and Particle Physics. 

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GATE Syllabus for Physics 2023

GATE Syllabus for Physics 2023 includes nine sections/ major topics apart from General Aptitude. These include:

Section 1: Mathematical Physics

• Linear vector space: basis, orthogonality and completeness; matrices; vector calculus; linear differential equations; elements of complex analysis
• Cauchy Riemann conditions, Cauchy’s theorems, singularities, residue theorem and applications
• Laplace transforms, Fourier analysis; elementary ideas about tensors: covariant and contravariant tensor, Levi-Civita and Christoffel symbols.

Section 2: Classical Mechanics

• Alembert’s principle, cyclic coordinates, variational principle
• Lagrange’s equation of motion, central force and scattering problems, rigid body motion; small oscillations
• Hamilton’s formalisms; Poisson bracket; special theory of relativity
• Lorentz transformations, relativistic kinematics, mass‐energy equivalence.

Section 3: Electromagnetic Theory

• Solutions of electrostatic and magnetostatic problems including boundary value problems; dielectrics and conductors
• Maxwell’s equations; scalar and vector potentials; Coulomb and Lorentz gauges
• Electromagnetic waves and their reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction and polarization
• Poynting vector, Poynting theorem, energy and momentum of electromagnetic waves; radiation from a moving charge.

Section 4: Quantum Mechanics

• Postulates of quantum mechanics; uncertainty principle
• Schrodinger equation; one-, two- and three-dimensional potential problems; particle in a box, transmission through one-dimensional potential barriers, harmonic oscillator, hydrogen atom; linear vectors and operators in Hilbert space; angular momentum and spin; addition of angular momenta; time-independent perturbation theory; elementary scattering theory.

Section 5: Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

• Laws of thermodynamics; macrostates and microstates; phase space; ensemble
• Partition function, free energy, calculation of thermodynamic quantities; classical and quantum statistics; degenerate
• Fermi gas; black body radiation and Planck’s distribution law; Bose‐Einstein condensation; first and second-order phase transitions, phase equilibria, critical point.

Section 6: Atomic and Molecular Physics

• Spectra of one‐ and many‐electron atoms
• LS and jj coupling; hyperfine structure; Zeeman and Stark effects; electric dipole transitions and selection rules; rotational and vibrational spectra of diatomic molecules; electronic transition in diatomic molecules
• Franck‐Condon principle; Raman effect; NMR, ESR, X-ray spectra; lasers: Einstein coefficients, population inversion, two and three-level systems.

Section 7: Solid State Physics

• Elements of crystallography; diffraction methods for structure determination; bonding in solids; lattice vibrations and thermal properties of solids; free electron theory; band theory of solids: nearly free electron and tight-binding models; metals, semiconductors and insulators; conductivity, mobility and effective mass;
• Optical properties of solids; Kramers-Kronig relation, intra- and inter-band transitions; dielectric properties of solid; dielectric function, polarizability, ferroelectricity; magnetic properties of solids; dia, para, ferro, antiferro and ferri-magnetism, domains and magnetic anisotropy; superconductivity: Type-I and Type II superconductors, Meissner effect, London equation, BCS Theory, flux quantization.

Section 8: Electronics

• Semiconductors in equilibrium: electron and hole statistics in intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors; metal-semiconductor junctions;
• Ohmic and rectifying contacts; PN diodes, bipolar junction transistors, field effect transistors; negative and positive feedback circuits; oscillators, operational amplifiers, active filters; basics of digital logic circuits, combinational and sequential circuits, flip-flops, timers, counters, registers, A/D and D/A conversion.

Section 9: Nuclear and Particle Physics

• Nuclear radii and charge distributions, nuclear binding energy
• Electric and magnetic moments; nuclear models, liquid drop model: semi‐empirical mass formula
• Fermi gas model of nucleus, nuclear shell model; nuclear force and two nucleon problem; alpha decay, beta‐decay, electromagnetic transitions in nuclei
• Rutherford scattering, nuclear reactions, conservation laws; fission and fusion; particle accelerators and detectors; elementary particles, photons, baryons, mesons and leptons; quark model.

Section 10 - General Aptitude 

Direct link to download GATE Physics(PH) syllabus PDF 

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Best Books for GATE 2023 Physics 

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GATE Exam Pattern 2023 for Physics 

• Mode of Examination: Online
• Duration of exam: 3 hours
• Type of questions: MCQs, MSQs, & NATs 
• Total Sections: 2 sections i.e. General Aptitude and Subject-based
• Total questions: 65
• Total marks: 100 marks
• Negative marking: for MCQs only

GATE Physics Marking Scheme 2023

Check Detailed GATE 2023 Exam Pattern  

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GATE 2023 Syllabus Of Other Papers

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GATE Syllabus for Physics 2023 FAQs